The NACDL Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award recognizes an individual or group whose exceptional efforts have led toward progressive reform of a state criminal justice system.

NACDL's State Criminal Justice Network Newsletter features a snapshot of NACDL's state criminal justice priorities, as well as recent internal and external reports, information on upcoming events, webinars, current state legislative reform efforts, legislative tracking, action alerts and more! The newsletter is disseminated monthly via email. 

Recording of Systemic Juror Exclusion: How States Continue to Disenfranchise Prospective Jurors Through Improper Policy Implementation, a webinar hosted by NACDL for Second Chance Month 2023.

The era of mass incarceration and the vast expansion of the nation’s criminal legal system over the past 50 years has produced a corresponding increase in the number of people with a criminal record. An estimated 77.7 million individuals – nearly 1 out of every 3 American adults – has a criminal record. At the same time, the collateral consequences of a conviction have become more severe and permanent, affecting virtually every aspect of an individual’s life. NACDL partners and advocates reflect on 50 Years of Mass Incarceration and their work to promote second chances in their communities.

Second Chance Videos 2023: Candace Snavely, Western Maryland Consortium

Second Chance Videos 2023: Coley Harris, Delaware Office of Defense Services

Second Chance Videos 2023: David Stewart, AHEC West Health Insurance Program

Second Chance Videos 2023: Kamau Sandiford, Safe & Just Michigan

Second Chance Videos 2023: LaQuita Honeysucker, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union

NACDL’s unique State Criminal Justice Network (SCJN) provides a medium to exchange information, share resources, and develop strategies for promoting rational and humane criminal justice policies. In addition, it seeks to educate the general public about the many issues that influence, and policies that affect the criminal justice system. As a result, the Network does not require membership in the organization.

To join the Network, go to nacdl.org/JoinSCJN.

On January 12, 2022, Sincere B. Allah was granted a conditional pardon by Governor Ralph Northam after 24 years of incarceration. Sincere and his attorney were paired through the Virginia Redemption Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project. 

Professor Katie Tinto recounts telling her client, Charlie Fragoso, that he was granted clemency after being incarcerated for over 30 years. Professor Tinto and her students worked through the Trial Penalty Clemency Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project, to secure his release. 

Daniel Gregory describes the day he learned that he was granted compassionate release after being incarcerated for 15 years. Daniel and his attorney were paired through the Excessive Sentence Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project. 

Kenneth Charles "Charlie" Fragoso describes the day he found out that he was granted clemency after over 30 years of incarceration. His attorney, Professor Katie Tinto, worked through the Trial Penalty Clemency Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project, to secure his release. 

In November 2021, just days before Thanksgiving, attorney Trevor Parkes found out that his client, Daniel Gregory, had been granted compassionate release after 15 years of incarceration. He had been paired with Daniel through the Excessive Sentence Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project.